This last week of school felt like a breath of fresh air. Nothing dramatic, nothing overly planned — just simple, steady wins that reminded me why we chose this path.
The biggest surprise?
The girls did school with a neighbor friend… and they were actually excited about it.
Excited.
To sit.
And do schoolwork.
Together.
Both of us moms looked at each other like, Is this real life?
But it was, and it was beautiful.
The small-town community we’re working so hard to grow roots in is starting to sprout in visible ways. Watching our girls build friendships, routines, and confidence alongside neighbors is a gift I didn’t know I’d treasure so much.
Finding a Rhythm (Even When Life Is Busy)
Both girls seem to be getting into their groove lately.
Not perfect, not rigid — just a quiet commitment to doing their best.
They’re beginning to approach their assignments with a little more focus, a little more effort, and a little more joy. And honestly? I’m learning to celebrate that.
The biggest challenge right now is helping them enjoy reading when there is so much to play, build, discover, and do around here. But every time one of them curls up with a book — even for a few minutes — it feels like a small victory.
We’ll take small victories all day long.
Friday Night Lights — Ranch Life Edition
Meanwhile, Friday night turned into its own wild adventure.
The girls got to head out with their dad for a full-blown mobile butchering evening — what was supposed to be one stop somehow turned into three. (In true Kendricks fashion, when something is working well, we just keep going!)
They came home smelling like pigs and sawdust, filled with stories, and proud of the work they got to witness. It might not be the typical “Friday Night Lights,” but it’s part of our family’s rhythm — and honestly, part of their education too.
This is homeschool.
This is life school.
And it counts.
Learning to Release the Fear of “Falling Behind”
And then there’s me.
This week taught me something I didn’t expect —
I worry way too much about “falling behind.”
The accredited curriculum, the pacing guides, the checkboxes… they all whisper the same fear:
Are we doing enough? Are they keeping up? Are we on track?
But the more we settle into our routine, the more I see the truth:
Slowing down is not falling behind.
Understanding is not falling behind.
Enjoying is not falling behind.
It’s grounding.
It’s peaceful.
And I believe it will pay dividends in ways that matter far more than deadlines on a chart.
The magic of homeschooling isn’t in racing through material — it’s in savoring the learning, hearing their thoughts, connecting deeply, and giving them the space to grow at a human pace instead of a bureaucratic one.
Looking Ahead With a Softer, Steadier Heart
This week reminded me that progress doesn’t always look loud.
Sometimes it looks like:
• Kids excited to do school with a friend
• Small moments of reading that grow slowly
• A peaceful rhythm settling in
• Late-night pig butchering with Dad
• Little hearts choosing effort over avoidance
• A mama learning to breathe and trust God with the pace
Forward doesn’t have to mean fast.
It can simply mean faithful.
Here’s to another week of discovery, grace, community, and learning — one beautifully imperfect day at a time.